USMNT Placed in Group G, Leaves Fans with Plenty to Talk About Before Brazil

Every American fan's worst nightmare was imagined on Friday as the United States men's national team drew Germany, Ghana and Portugal in Group G at the World Cup draw in Bahia, Brazil.

Not only did the United States get cast into the Group of Death for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but they also earned the dubious honor of having to travel the most during the group stage.

If that was not enough to talk about, all three of the Yanks' opponents present mouthwatering backstories that people will talk about for the next six months leading into Brazil.

Let's start with Germany, the home land of United States manager Jürgen Klinsmann, a land that has given us Jermaine Jones, Fabian Johnson and on some occasions Timothy Chandler.

Germany also possesses one of, if not the, deepest squads in the entire tournament with young talent blossoming up from every corner of the country.

For those lovers of the narrative, the manager of Germany, Joachim Löw, was Klinsmann's top assistant at the 2006 FIFA World Cup when Die Mannschaft made it to the semifinals on home soil.

But, that wonderful reunion between the Americans and Germans will be put on hold until the final day of Group G play in Recife, a match that if all goes right could see the United States advance and possibly knock off the Germans.

Before the Americans will get a chance to play the role of giant killer against Germany, and even before they face Portugal in the deep depths of the Amazon rainforest, they must encounter Ghana.

Ghana has been the kryptonite to the United States' Superman in the last two World Cups, and Klinsmann's men get a chance to enact revenge during their first game in Brazil on June 16 in Natal.

At the very disappointing 2006 World Cup in Germany for the Yanks, they fell to Ghana in the final group game, 2-1.

In 2010 after the dramatic heroics of Landon Donovan that made Ian Darke an American soccer icon forever, the Black Stars outplayed the Americans and knocked them out in the round of 16 in South Africa.

Ian Walton/Getty Images

The saying, "the third time's a charm" would be worth mentioning here as the Yanks will finally look to bury their Ghanian foes and earn a win that could propel them to an upset of epic proportions later in the tournament.

Drawing Ghana first is the best thing that could have happened for the United States in this Group of Death scenario as they are seen as the weakest opponents that they will come up against.

Defeating the Black Stars would hand the Americans a massive boost of confidence heading into their clash with Portugal on June 22 in Manaus.

While taking down Portugal and their absurdly talented leader Cristiano Ronaldo may seem like a Herculean task, it has been done before.

Back in 2002 in Suwon, South Korea, the United States opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-2 victory over a Portuguese team led by Luís Figo, who was a superstar in his own right during that time.

John O'Brien celebrating the opening goal in 2002 against Portugal.Brian Bahr/Getty Images

None of these three games will be an easy task for the United States, but it is the challenge they needed to accept in order to become a better footballing nation.

It will not be an easy task, as detailed above, but it is one that can be done given the mentality of Klinsmann and the level of talent that the United States now has.

Regardless of the results come June, Group G will leave us with plenty to talk about before, during and after the games become final.